SIAT Group

1. Sustainable natural rubber policy or commitment for all its operations?

The company has an Environmental Policy, Human Resource Policy, and Health and Safety Policy covering both social and environmental issues.

2. Sustainable natural rubber policy or commitment applies to all suppliers?

The company has an Environmental Policy, Human Resource Policy, and Health and Safety Policy covering both social and environmental issues which applies to all suppliers.

3. High-level position of responsibility for sustainability?

Group Sustainability Manager.

4. One or more members within the board of the company have responsibility for sustainability?

The company reports that its 'Audit and Risk Committee' oversees adherence to laws and regulations including ESG regulations. However, the webpage where this information is reported is undated.

5. Percentage or number of women in senior management team?

The company reports that over 10% of its senior staff are women as of 2021. However, it is unclear if the senior staff represents the senior management team of the company.

6. Percentage or number of women board members?

14.28% - The company's board consists of one female member out of a total of seven members. However, the gender balance is not directly reported and the webpage where this information is reported is undated.

7. Member of multiple industry schemes or other external initiatives to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with natural rubber production?

[Externally verified] TFA.

8. Collaboration with stakeholders to reduce negative environmental or social outcomes associated with natural rubber production?

The company reports it has built strong partnerships with research and development entities in order to continuously improve production practices like CIRAD which assists the group in the rubber and oil palm sectors with research focusing mainly on yield improvement, integrated pest management, and soil fertility management systems; Ghent University who assists DRP-EP with cloning and in-vitro plant mass production.

9. Sustainability report published within last two years?

The company's latest sustainability report was published in 2021.

10. Reports through standardised reporting systems?

11. Climate risks assessment available?

12. Lists countries and operations?

Plantations (Ivory Coast, Gabon, Nigeria, and Ghana), processing (Ivory Coast, Ghana and Gabon).

13. Lists countries sourcing from?

14. Total land area managed/controlled for natural rubber (ha)?

132624 - The company has reported the total concession area, however, the figures include its palm oil operations as well.

15. Total natural rubber planted area (ha)?

19424 - The company reports the total natural rubber planted area as 19,424 ha. Data as of 2021.

16. Scheme smallholders/outgrowers planted area (ha)?

17. Unplanted area (areas designated for future planting) (ha)?

59232 - This figure represents the total unplanted area across all concessions and includes land managed for rubber and oil palm cultivation. Data as of 2021.

18. Conservation set-aside area, including HCV area (ha)?

7061 - The company reports a conservation area of 7,061 ha. However, this figure is not specific to the natural rubber operations of the company and includes palm oil operations as well.

19. Maps of estates/management units?

20. Management plans for natural rubber production are available for all estates/management units?

The management plan for one estate of the company is available.

21. Monitoring of management plan implementation available for all estates/management units?

The monitoring plan for only one rubber estate of the company is available.

22. Maps of scheme/outgrower smallholders?

23. Names and locations of all third-party supplying industrial estates/management units?

24. List of jurisdictions where sourcing from smallholders?

25. Number of company owned natural rubber processing facilities?

3 - The company owns three natural rubber facilities.

26. Names and locations of company owned natural rubber processing facilities?

The company only provides the names of the facilities.

27. Number (or percentage) of company-owned processing facilities that source from company-owned operations and third parties?

28. Reports total volumes (or percentages) sourced by company-owned processing facilities that come from company's own operations and third-parties?

29. Number of third party supplying processing facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not have any third-party processing facility suppliers.

30. Names and locations of all third party supplying processing facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not have any third-party processing facility suppliers.

31. Number (or percentage) of third party supplying processing facilities that source from their own plantations and third party plantations?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not have any third-party processing facility suppliers.

32. Reports total volume (or percentages) sourced from third-party supplying processing facilities that come from the supplying facilities' own operations and third parties?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not have any third-party processing facility suppliers.

33. Total volume (or percentage) sourced for manufacturing that comes from intermediary traders rather than directly from processing facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate manufacturing facilities.

34. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to processing facility level?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not have any third-party processing facility suppliers.

35. Percentage of supply traceable to processing facility level?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not have any third-party processing facility suppliers.

36. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to industrial plantation level?

The company commits that each batch of raw material is traceable upstream to its producer and downstream to the finished product. However, the commitment is not time-bound.

37. Percentage of supply from own processing facilities traceable to industrial plantation level?

38. Percentage of supply from third-party processing facilities traceable to industrial plantation level?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not have any third-party processing facility suppliers.

39. Time-bound commitment to achieve 100% traceability to jurisdictional level for smallholders?

40. Percentage of supply from own processing facilities traceable to smallholder at jurisdictional level?

41. Percentage of supply from third party processing facilities traceable to smallholders at jurisdictional level?

This indicator is disabled as the company reports that it does not have any third-party processing facility suppliers.

42. Member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR)?

43. Submitted self-declaration form for the Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i)?

The company has submitted a self-declaration form for SNR-i.

44. Percentage area (ha) FSC certified?

45. Time-bound plan for achieving FSC FM certification of estates/management units?

46. Percentage of scheme/outgrower smallholders (ha) FSC-certified?

47. Time-bound plan for achieving FSC certification of scheme/outgrower smallholders?

48. Percentage of natural rubber supply (tonnes) from independent smallholders/outgrowers/third-party natural rubber suppliers that is FSC-certified?

49. Percentage of all natural rubber products handled/traded/processed (tonnes) that is FSC-certified?

This indicator is disabled as the company does manufacture or trade rubber products.

50. Percentage area (ha) PEFC certified (excluding FSC certified area)?

51. Certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme?

The company is ISO 14001 certified. However, the certificates are not publicly available.

52. Commitment to become 100% certified under voluntary sustainability certification scheme?

The company reports its commitment to certifying its rubber activities through the ISO 14001 environmental management system. However, this commitment in place is to only increase certification but not to 100%.

53. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems?

54. Commitment to zero conversion of natural ecosystems applies to all suppliers?

55. Commitment to zero deforestation?

The company commits to zero deforestation.

56. Commitment to zero deforestation applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to zero deforestation.

57. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion?

The company defines deforestation as no conversion of disputed land, HCS & HCV areas, and fragile soils and specifies that any conversion past 1st January 2010 will not be accepted.

58. Criteria and cut-off date for defining deforestation in supplier operations?

59. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion?

The company reports recruiting eco-guards to monitor and protect conservation areas on daily basis, however, information is limited and not over two years old.

60. Evidence of monitoring deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion in supplier operations?

61. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in own operations since cut-off date?

62. Amount of deforestation and/or ecosystem conversion recorded in supplier operations since cut-off date?

63. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion?

The company commits to restoring degraded areas to their prior condition. However, it does not specify which type of areas will be restored. The cut-off date beyond which deforestation/conversion is not accepted, and therefore will be restored, is 1st January 2010.

64. Commitment to restoration of deforestation/conversion applies to all suppliers?

65. Implementing a landscape or jurisdictional level approach?

[Externally verified] The company actively participates in a Public-Private Partnership landscape project in Ivory Coast with the Cocoa-Forests Initiative. Although this project focuses mainly on cocoa it also involves other commodity productions in the landscape including the company's rubber operations. Information was verified by a report written with the Cocoa-Forests Initiative, but is over two years old.

66. Biodiversity policy?

67. Biodiversity policy applies to all suppliers?

68. Identified species of conservation concern, referencing international or national system of species classification?

[Externally verified] The company references one species of parrot which is on the Birdlife International Red List, and one species of gorilla referencing the IUCN Red List. Evidence has been externally verified by Terre Environnement Aménagement.

69. Examples of species and/or habitat conservation management?

The company details examples such as patrolling conservation areas, collecting ecological data, educational campaigns, and reforesting vegetation. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

70. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species?

The company commits to no hunting of all species in its operations.

71. Commitment to no hunting or only sustainable hunting of species applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to no hunting of all species in their operations.

72. Commitment to protect areas from illegal activities?

73. Commitment to protect forest areas from illegal activities applies to all suppliers?

74. Evidence of protecting forest areas from illegal activities?

The company reports that SNL has recruited a team of eco guards from host communities who are responsible for monitoring the conservation areas on daily basis in order to prevent any illegal activities. However, the information reported is limited and over two years old.

75. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments?

The company commits to conduct HCV assessments.

76. Commitment to conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments applies to all suppliers?

The company commits suppliers to conduct HCV assessments.

77. High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments available for all new plantings since 1st April 2019?

78. High Conservation Value (HCV) management and monitoring plans available for all new plantings since 1st April 2019?

79. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach?

The company only commits to respecting the High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stock (HCS) areas by doing third-party assessments, protecting and monitoring them.

80. Commitment to the High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach applies to all suppliers?

The company commits its suppliers to only respecting the High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stock (HCS) areas by doing third-party assessments, protecting and monitoring them.

81. High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments available?

82. Peer review of all High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments undertaken since April 2015 by the HCSA Quality Assurance Process?

83. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs)?

The company commits to conduct SEIAs for all its operations.

84. Commitment to conduct social and environmental impact assessments (SEIAs) applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to conduct SEIAs.

85. Social and environmental impact assessment (SEIAs) undertaken, and associated management and monitoring plans?

[Externally verified] The company provides externally verified management and monitoring plans for SEIAs.

86. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

The company commits to no planting on peat but does not specifies the depth.

87. Commitment to no planting on peat of any depth applies to all suppliers?

88. Landbank or planted area on peat (ha)?

The company has not identified any peat soil in its concessions. Data as of 2021.

89. Implementation of commitment to no planting on peat of any depth?

This indicator is disabled as the company has reported in the last two years that it has no peat in its operations.

90. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat?

The company commits to good agricultural practices for soils and reports not having any landbank on peat.

91. Commitment to best management practices for soils and peat applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to best management practices for soils.

92. Evidence of best management practices for soils and peat?

The company provides examples of best soil management practices and states it has no landbank on peat. In addition to this, RSPO requirements are followed regarding soil conservation, management, and monitoring of fragile areas. The company also reports collaboration with CIRAD which focuses mainly on yield improvement, integrated pest management, and soil fertility management systems. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

93. Commitment to best/sustainable tapping practices?

94. Commitment to best/sustainable tapping practices applies to all suppliers?

95. Evidence of best/sustainable tapping practices?

96. Commitment to zero burning?

The company commits to zero burning.

97. Commitment to zero burning applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to zero burning.

98. Evidence of fire monitoring and management?

The company has stated in its environment policy that employees are sensitized on the zero-burning policy and fire surveillance teams are trained to monitor, react to, control and manage involuntary fire outbreaks in the plantations. However, evidence found for the same was over five years.

99. Details/number of hotspots/fires in company estates/management units?

100. Details/number of hotspots/fires in suppliers operations/jurisdictions?

101. Time-bound commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity?

102. GHG emissions intensity?

The company reports GHG emissions intensity for its rubber operations as 0.37 tCO2e/ton dry rubber product in 2020. However, this information is over two years old now.

103. GHG emissions from land use change?

The company reports GHG emission intensity figures from land-use change in two metrics: 9.4 tCO2/ha and 23.75 tCO2/t rubber in 2020. However, the information reported is over two years old now.

104. Progress towards commitment to reduce GHG emissions intensity?

The company reports progress toward GHG emissions intensity of its rubber operations, however, the intensity is not improving.

105. Methodology used to calculate GHG emissions?

The company reports that for its rubber subsidiaries, in the absence of a dedicated method for rubber, the simplified PalmGHG calculation has been adapted to calculate GHG emissions.

106. Time-bound commitment to improve water use intensity?

107. Water use intensity?

The company reports water use intensity figures for two out of its total three natural rubber facilities: 20m3/t rubber for Gabon and 33m3/t rubber for Ivory Coast.

108. Progress towards commitment on water use intensity?

The company reports water use intensity figures from 2019-2021 for two of its rubber operations, however, the average intensity is not improving.

109. Time-bound commitment to improve water quality (BOD or COD)?

110. Progress towards commitment on water quality (BOD or COD)?

111. Treatment of effluents from processing facilities?

112. Treatment of effluents from manufacturing facilities?

This indicator is disabled as the company does not operate manufacturing facilities.

113. Commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

The company commits to protect natural waterways through buffer zones.

114. Implementation of commitment to protect natural waterways through buffer zones?

115. Reducing odours from natural rubber processing or manufacuring facilities?

116. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers?

The company only reports its commitment to limiting the use of pesticides. A commitment to reduce/limit the use of chemicals including fertilisers is not reported.

117. Commitment to minimise the use of chemicals, including pesticides and chemical fertilisers, applies to all suppliers?

The company only commits its suppliers to limit the use of pesticides. A commitment to reduce/limit the use of chemicals including fertilisers is not reported.

118. Commitment to no use of paraquat?

The company commits to not use paraquat.

119. Commitment to no use of paraquat applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to not use paraquat.

120. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides?

The company commits to not use World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides.

121. Commitment to no use of World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to not use World Health Organisation (WHO) Class 1A and 1B pesticides.

122. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention?

The company commits to not use Stockholm and Rotterdam Convention chemicals.

123. Commitment to no use of chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention and Rotterdam Convention applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to not use Stockholm and Rotterdam Convention chemicals.

124. Chemical usage per ha or list of chemicals used?

125. Implementation of commitment to minimise inorganic fertiliser usage?

126. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach?

The company only reports that CIRAD assists the group in the rubber and oil palm sector for research which focuses mainly on yield improvement, integrated pest management, and soil fertility management system. However, the company does not provide details if this is implemented.

127. Commitment to human rights?

The company commits to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights.

128. Commitment to human rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights.

129. Progress on human rights commitment ?

The company reports it has conducted training and awareness on its HR policies in 2021 which states the company's commitment to human rights. However, limited details are reported.

130. Commitment to respect Indigenous and local communities' rights?

The company commits to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

131. Commitment to indigenous and local communities' rights applies to all suppliers?

The company commits suppliers to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

132. Commitment to respect legal and customary land tenure rights?

133. Commitment to legal and customary land rights applies to all suppliers?

134. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)?

The company commits to respect FPIC.

135. Commitment to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to respect FPIC.

136. Details on Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) process available?

137. Examples of local stakeholder engagement to prevent conflicts?

The company provides only one example of local community engagement activity: the Presco mechanism for land dispute resolution. Also, the information reported is now over two years old.

138. Details of process for addressing land conflicts available?

The company mentions it has a "conflict management procedure" as a part of its grievance mechanism. However, it is unclear if this process covers land disputes/conflicts.

139. Supports the inclusion of women across natural rubber operations, including addressing barriers faced?

140. Commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

The company reports contributing to the sustainability of local production, food security, and the import of foreign currency into the countries it operates in.

141. Progress on commitment to mitigate impacts on food security?

The company ran an integrated rubber and food-crop project which ended in 2018. No new evidence could be found.

142. Commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

The company commits to provide essential community services and facilities.

143. Progress on commitment to provide essential community services and facilities?

The company reports that 268,166 euros were spent on community projects (road maintenance, electrification, education, water) in 2021 and that each of its subsidiaries commits to yearly allocating an amount of 0.5% of turnover + 0.5% of profit after tax to finance socio-economic projects. However, the company does not report specific examples.

144. Commitment to provide business/work opportunities for local communities?

The company commits to provide business opportunities for local communities.

145. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles?

The company commits to the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

146. Commitment to Fundamental ILO Conventions or Free and Fair Labour Principles applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

147. Progress on commitment to respect all workers' rights?

148. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

The company commits to prevent employment-related discrimination based on gender.

149. Commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to prevent employment-related discrimination based on gender.

150. Progress on commitment to eliminate gender related discrimination with regards to employment?

The company reports gender awareness campaigns are carried out by the gender committee for awareness of gender issues, practices, and implementation. The company also reports it has conducted training and awareness on its HR policies in 2021 which states the company's commitment to gender discrimination. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

151. Percentage or number of temporary employees?

15765 (87.71%) - The company reports the number of temporary employees. Data as of 2021.

152. Percentage or number of women employees?

28% - The company reports the percentage of women employees. Data as of 2021.

153. Commitment to pay a living wage?

154. Commitment to pay a living wage applies to all suppliers?

155. Progress on commitment to pay a living wage?

156. Reporting of salary by gender?

157. Commitment to address occupational health and safety?

The company commits to address health and safety at work for all workers.

158. Commitment to address occupational health and safety applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to address health and safety at work for all workers.

159. Provision of personal protective equipment and related training?

The company states it provides PPE and related training to its employees. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

160. Time lost due to work-based injuries?

Lost Time Injury Frequency. Data as of 2021.

161. Number of fatalities as a result of work-based accidents?

The company provides a combined figure for serious injuries and fatalities. The number of fatalities is unclear. Data as of 2021.

162. Commitment to support smallholders?

The company only states that it supports numerous local farmers (smallholders) by purchasing their crops for processing. However, the type of smallholders supported is unclear.

163. Percentage of supply from smallholders?

164. Programme to support scheme smallholders/outgrowers?

The company only mentions that it supports the certification of smallholders. However, the details on support provided and the type of smallholders supported are unclear.

165. Percentage of scheme smallholders/outgrowers involved in programme?

166. Programme to support independent smallholders?

The company only mentions that it supports the certification of smallholders. However, the details on support provided and the type of smallholders supported are unclear.

167. Percentage of independent smallholders involved in programme?

168. Process used to engage smallholder suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

169. Number or percentage of smallholder suppliers engaged on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

170. Process used to prioritise, assess and/or engage non-smallholder suppliers on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

171. Number or percentage of non-smallholder suppliers assessed and/or engaged on compliance with company's policy and/or legal requirements?

172. Suspension or exclusion criteria for non-smallholder suppliers?

173. Time-bound action plans (including Key Performance Indicators) for suppliers to be in compliance with natural rubber sourcing commitments?

174. Proportion of direct and indirect supply from third-parties that comes from natural rubber plantations which are compliant with natural rubber sourcing policies?

175. Percentage of supply coming from agroforestry?

176. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

The company commits to ethical conduct and the prohibition of corruption.

177. Commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption applies to all suppliers?

The company commits all suppliers to ethical conduct and the prohibition of corruption.

178. Progress on commitment to ethical conduct and prohibition of corruption?

The company provides training on HR policies and requires all employees to annually sign a code of conduct. However, the information reported is not externally verified.

179. Disclosure of the company’s management approach to tax and payments to governments?

180. Whistleblowing procedure?

The company ensures that whistleblower anonymity is protected and the procedure is outlined.

181. Own grievance or complaints system open to all stakeholders?

The company has a grievance system open to all stakeholders.

182. Details of complaints and grievances disclosed?